Weighted Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving break couldn’t have come at a better time!! To say that I’ve been riding the Struggle Bus lately would be an understatement. Marathon training is nearing its peak which has left me mentally and physically tired. All. The. Time. Plus, I still have to be an adult (why can’t someone show up to work for me and wash all my clothes?!?). The weirdest thing: society expects me to continue to act sociable. (By the way, I haven’t been very sociable.) Throw my ADHD in there and you have the perfect storm! Some days I have trouble forming sentences…..seriously!! As tiring as it all is, I absolutely love (almost) every minute of training!

Training has been going very well. My fitness has been improving and I might even be getting a tad bit faster! I really appreciate the guidance that I’m getting from my coach. And successfully executing workouts that are appropriate for me has substantially raised my confidence level. I have been battling a little calf issue, but I found an ART guy who is more than happy to inflict unreal amounts of pain on me…..and I can tell a huge improvement after 2 sessions with him!

Even with my recent successes, I still wrestle with doubts. At this point (I say ‘at this point’ because I still have almost 3 weeks to race day), I am at truly at peace. (If you have known me for any length of time, you realize how HUGE this is!) What has changed? I am finally trusting in my training. (Hint: trusting your training is much easier to do when someone who is knowledgeable is planning your workouts for you and your training isn’t crap!) I do have some goals for the race, but I refuse to fret over whether I meet them or not. I know full well that ANYTHING can happen on race day and I have decided that I will simply do my best to manage the challenges that the race throws at me. I’m a week away from taper and I don’t think I’ve ever been in a better place, running wise. Being able to toe the start line, uninjured and strong, is a victory in itself, especially considering all the stupid injuries I have overcome this past year.

Weighted Thanksgiving

My husband is so wonderful. He has been dedicating so much of his spare time to improvement projects around the house. In late summer, he completely renovated the kid’s bath and lately he has been transforming his old shop into a workout space/game room for the family. We are finally to the point that we are putting the finishing touches on the room. He has filled it with TV/satellite, couches, darts and ping pong. But he also moved my treadmill out there (NOT an easy task!) and I have my bike trainer out there as well.

To finish out the space, he got me a squat rack and Logan a bench press. I have wanted to add “real” weights to my strength routine for quite some time, but I honestly couldn’t do the gym. I am kind-of self-conscious, plus I can’t handle all the guys flexing their muscles in the mirror. LOL No worries – I am adding weight into my routine very slowly.

Of course, Logan is using this as yet another reason to poke fun at his dorky mom, especially because right now I am only using the bar. I have tried to explain to him that I am less than 3 weeks away from my race and runners can’t just go and max out without a huge injury risk. I am NOT willing to do ANYTHING that will risk my performance in this race. I have some things to prove to myself out there.

However, I am so excited to add this to my training….I think it will most definitely help me become a better runner!

“Save the World” Taylor

I laughed last year when I was told that many of Taylor’s high school friends call her “Save the World” Taylor. The name fits her. I really had no idea what kind of storm I was releasing upon the world when I was raising her. She was my first and I was so worried about raising a child that was indifferent to the suffering in our world. I wanted her to see the person’s heart and soul, not their race, religion, sexual orientation or any other restriction our human brain imposes on others. I think I succeeded. 🙂 I also wanted her to be independent. Of course, I never expected that teaching her to be independent would have her already travelling to Guatemala and Thailand by the age of 22! I admire her fire and drive and fearlessness to follow her passion. She is amazing.

She is in Thailand right now with my niece, Laura and her boyfriend Michael. Laura and Michael have been in the region since late August and are scheduled to return next month. Taylor couldn’t resist the opportunity to visit and I am so happy that she went! The pictures that Laura has shared are absolutely beautiful! I am experiencing a bit of jealousy sitting at my computer right now!

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5 thoughts on “Weighted Thanksgiving”

Love that you share your struggles and triumphs. So much easier to deal with mine when I hear others out there don’t have it easy either. Funny how much easier weathering the storm becomes when you know there are others doing the same thing. Regardless of what happens, that race will come and go, and you will be a stronger and more knowledgeable person afterward!

Thank you! I feel like I walk a thin line between sharing struggles and complaining at times! LOL
We runners all share the same struggles, whether we admit it or not, so we may as well support each other along the way 🙂

Love that you can bare your soul and share your struggles. I love reading them because it is so much easier to know that others are crossing similar hurdles along the way. It is so much easier to “weather the storm” when you know there are others out there in it as well. That race will come and go, but regardless of the outcome, you will come out a stronger, more knowledgeable person on the other side!

You are a remarkable woman. You will do well in your race-trust your training & have fun! I think the beauty inside & out of your daughter is a reflection of her mother! Happy running, and enjoy your Thanksgiving break!